TORPEDO BOAT SUNK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11045, 10 August 1907, Page 13

TORPEDO BOAT SUNK.

SHAFT BREAKS DURING bx J EED TRIAL. CREW KESCUED. . LONDON, June HI. Through the breaking of her stein shaft Torpedo boat No. 99, one of the four fully .manned torpedo-boats of the Dovonport Torpedo Flotilla, wais sunk yesterday off Torquay. The flotilla, consisting of Nos. 98, 99, 107, and ioß', left Devonport early yesterday morning, under Commander VV. G. Crawford, to carry out 'the usual quarterly steam trials. They reacheel Torbay about noon, when the trials began. The boats were watched from Torquay with great interest, making the circuit of the bay at high speed. Suddenly, about one o'clock, No. 99, which was then steaming at full speed some eight or tan miles from the coast, hoisted signals' of distress. Her shaft had broken without giving any warning, ripping <opon the ; thin plates of the, stern, which aro no. thicker than • brown paper, and letting in a great inrush of water. ■'■''■ The boat 'immediately began to sink by the. stern, while her bow rose high ouf of the water. .-'* The shaft broke quite suddenly and unexpectedly, at a moment when everything was going well and the engines wore running smoothly. The vessel till, ed at once. As the other three torpedoboats were carrying out their trials independently : !they , were . not at hand, and knew nothing of the. disaster. Indeed, ' Commander Crawford' was not aware of what v had occurred till ■'. No. 99 was' at the bottom. Seoing his vessel in immiment danger of foundering, Sub-Lieu tenant Lyon ordered his crew to take to the boats. Maintaining perfect order and discipline, the men launched the boats and put off from No. 99. One man remained behind, but jumped overboard with ajifebelt at the last, and remained afloat, \o that he was quickly picked U P*. .':,""'". ■': *■:..' -■ '. >. In the meantime the navigation school ship Dryad, which waS in the vicinity und which saw the accident, steamed up and took the crew on board, proceeding with them, .to Devonport. .-..'- FRENCH SUBMARINE SUNK. ; Toulon, June 19. The submarine Gymnote, one of the first to be built, for the French Navy, sunk in dock to-day. A hatch was left open, while the dock was being filled. The vessel- is looked upon as being a total loss, for, thought she has been refloated, all her gear is damaged beyond repair. A criminal act by discontented workmen is suspected as the cause of the Gymnote's losa.